25th December continued...
People do the strangest of things when they think they're alone, so much so that I don't think I'll ever look at Draco in the same way EVER again.
Draco Malfoy started crying. Not just a tear, but floods of tears. He took out a letter from his pocket which made him cry all the more. I stood there, looking at him, feeling totally bemused. I didn't know whether to laugh or to cry alongside him, so I had a glimpse what had been written,
"Dearest darling Draco,
I think it would be best if you were to stay at Hogwarts over Christmas, as you know your Father and I are experiencing difficulties and are spending the holidays away to fix our relationship. The ministry are on our backs constantly and your father is really stressed, he should never have shouted at you for your grades, they are good sweetheart, you can always aim to do better and you know I will always be proud of you. Use this time to chase after that pretty girl you've been telling me about, she will fall for you, my perfect prince when she sees how special you are. I'm sure she'll love the present you've picked out for her.
Merry Christmas and lots of love,
Mummy xxx"
"Wow." I mimed to myself as shivers rolled down my back. Draco put his hand into his pocket and lifted out a pink box that sat in the palm of his hand, perfectly wrapped with bows and ribbons. I noticed on the tag "Kathryn" was simply written. Goodness. He sat up and looked as though he was in deep thought and wiped away the tears on his cheeks. He looked like a lost puppy and I almost had the urge to console him but I was brought straight back to my senses as he soon returned to his usual self.
"Filthy Mudblood Granger won't get out of my way... Only time I get to talk to her is in potions, but she's working... not interested... come on Draco, don't be a prat-" he muttered, half of what he said was inaudible, especially since at this point he started circling the common room, making me dizzy watching him. Every so often he stopped and looked at the box and started pacing, back and forth, and back and forth. He then went over to the record player and put on a piece of unfamiliar music, which was surprisingly calm and reserved by comparison to what I imagined Slytherin House to represent. He stood on the spot and closed his eyes, swaying from side to side.
"Urghhhhhh!" he grunted in anger and silenced the music. He thumped himself down on the closest armchair and folded his arms like a toddler who had been told off. "I want her and I want her NOW!" he was aggressive at this stage and highly... disturbing. I went to the door and prayed that someone... anyone would come save me from the emotional wreck that is Draco Malfoy.
What seemed like hours later, with Draco ripping up books, punching things, practicing asking me out, dancing 'with me' and being utterly revolting the real Crabbe and Goyle returned from their deep sleep in the cleaning cupboard, looking as completely gormless as ever. I jumped up and ran straight to the Gryffindor common room. I was so tired and so freaked out that I was shaking. I closed the door behind me and in the darkness I slid down the wall to the point where I had my knees clasped by my hands right up to my chest and I tried to control my rapid breathing. Then a lamp switched on and I jumped out of my skin, it was Ginny.
"Are- are you ok?" she asked sheepishly, "Ron and Harry came back an hour ago and were acting really suspicious... Where's Hermione?"
"Merlin's beard!" I shot up onto my feet, going straight out of the common room and directly toward the hospital wing where I saw Hermione, lying there, covered in fur.
"Kathryn!" she whispered loudly, "Where have you been?"
"I got trapped in the Slytherin common room and couldn't get out until Draco went to bed or Crabbe and Goyle returned... I was waiting for hours. I'm sorry I wasn't here for you..."
She took my hand and shook her head, "It's alright, I've told the boys that they're in deep trouble and have sent them to bed."
I couldn't help but laugh; she really did have her way with them. "Can I stay here tonight with you?" I pleaded, really not wanting to be alone.
"I don't want to be alone, either!" she admitted, coughing up a fur ball and wingardium leviosa-ed a big comfy chair to beside her bed for me to sleep on. With all the mishaps and shocking revelations of the day, I conked out right away.
5th January 1993
Hermione spent the next few weeks in hospital, begging us to bring her work to do so that she "doesn't fall behind". Ron was against the idea, but from my own stay in the hospital wing, I would have been glad of something to do, so I kept her happy. I sat with her every night and studied or read or fetched books from the library- anything to avoid loneliness, being outnumbered by the boys and of course, to avoid Draco. I had been successful with that so far.
Something strange had happened one afternoon after classes when Harry, Ron and I were walking back to the Gryffindor Common Room... Moaning Myrtle's bathroom was flooded.
Naturally, our curiosity took over and we went to investigate. Myrtle was a wreck, (as usual) but something was different this time, she was hysterical over something or someone throwing a book through her head. She pointed at the washed up book and Harry went to pick it up, but Ron warned him of dangerous magical curses and jinxes that can be placed on objects, but Harry picked it up anyway, and he's still pretty much alive, thankfully!
We found out that it was a diary from 1943 belonging to a guy called T. M. Riddle. Ron remembered the name from his detention; he got an award for special services to the school. I thought that writing in diaries was a girl thing, but I have clearly been just been proven wrong, it was 50 years old, after all! Well, actually, it sadly seemed that there was no writing to be found in the diary whatsoever. He must be a special bloke. Harry pocketed it to see if there was anything else to discover.
"Guys?" I said to Harry and Ron on our favourite seats back in the common room, later that evening. The two of them looked at me, somewhat startled from the break of silence. "Malfoy said that the Chamber of Secrets was last opened 50 years ago!" I shared excitedly.
"And...?" they looked at me as though I were Fluffy.
"Riddle's diary dates back to 50 years ago, and he was given that award back then, too! Surely they could be linked?"
The two of them looked at me both in shock and amazement.
14th February
Hermione FINALLY got out of the hospital wing about a week ago- whisker, fur and tail-free! She loved being back in classes once again, I for one, was glad of the company. Lockhart was particularly delighted to see his star pupil back, making Hermione blush terribly and making Harry, Ron and I cringe.
Speaking of Lockhart, he arranged a little surprise for all the pupils on Valentines morning to lighten up the mood after the recent attacks. Everyone was still on edge, and rightly so- even though nothing had happened for a few months, something could happen at any time. Ernie Macmillan was still convinced that Harry was the culprit after the Parseltongue incident. It didn't help that Peeves had a song and dance to perform each time he and Harry crossed paths.
Anyway, on Valentines morning, Lockhart covered the Great Hall in pink heart-shaped confetti, pink flowers, pink teddy bears and he was wearing pink robes. He bragged about receiving forty-six cards from within the school, Hermione's face suggested that hers was one of them. He had approached me and Hermione, probably assuming there was one from me in there, too and wished us both a very happy day. Hermione was thrilled.
Fred and George sat down a bit up from us on the opposite side of the table. "I don't know how much pink I can take." George remarked, looking slightly disgusted by the new decor.
I looked at him, slightly offended.
"Well, look, there must be at least fifty different shades of pink in here and it clashes terribly with my hair!"
"I guess I make the fiftieth shade, then." I looked at him with a straight face, trying not to laugh at his embarrassment, "Shall I just leave so I don't cramp your style?" I smiled.
"Nah, you I can take!"
I shook my head at him sarcastically, "Gee, thanks for the compliment!"
"You're the only pink I don't clash with!"
"Glad to hear it!" I grinned.
Another one of Lockhart's surprises was dressing up Dwarves as Cupid and getting them to deliver cards and messages throughout the school. Everything that day seemed to get progressively cheesier.
To make matters worse, as I had a mouthful of bacon a Dwarf approached me. ME. I nearly choked as I got handed a pink gift bag. I went bright red. I looked across the table to Ron and Harry who both shrugged their shoulders. Further along the table I caught eyes with George and gulped. Taking a deep breath I opened the bag and lifted out a card which said,
"From the moment I first laid eyes on you I wish I never had to look away.
You are beautiful in every single way.
When I saw this, I thought of you.
I know you'll love it, I just knew.
From your love xxxxx"
Then, at the bottom of the bag I lifted out a box. The same pink box that I saw Draco had on Christmas day. On opening it, I saw the most beautiful vintage hair clip that was placed into your hair like a comb. The diamonds sparkled bright in that split second they saw the light. In that moment though, my emotions got the best of me, I took my belongings and left the Hall faster than anyone could stop me.
In the coolness of the corridor I tried to settle myself and my overwhelming disappointment. I went straight to the place I knew no one else would be- Moaning Myrtle's bathroom. It was then that I remembered just how I felt about George, I had seen him every single day, we smiled and talked but the present wasn't from him, and that feeling killed me inside. It was Draco, it had to be Draco.